Nov 9, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings followers look on late in the course of the fourth quarter in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Pictures
On April twenty fourth, the Minnesota Vikings ended the Jonathan Greenard period after two seasons, acquiring a pair of Third-Spherical picks in alternate for Greenard and a Seventh-Rounder to the Philadelphia Eagles. Most followers expressed blended feelings over the swap, and that sentiment was not unique. ESPN got here alongside this week and outlined its displeasure with the transaction.
Briefly, Invoice Barnwell from that community was not impressed.
Minnesota will now lean full tilt into the Dallas Turner period at exterior linebacker, which could’ve been the plan for the final two years.
Vikings EDGE Plan Nonetheless Has a Clear Lengthy-Time period Logic
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard celebrates after recording a sack in opposition to the Chicago Bears throughout an NFC North matchup at Soldier Area. Greenard emerged as one of many league’s most efficient edge defenders throughout his first season in Minnesota, serving to gasoline Brian Flores’ aggressive defensive scheme all through the marketing campaign. Nov. 24, 2024. Obligatory Credit score: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Pictures.
Invoice Barnwell: The Greenard Commerce Was Not Good
Barnwell outlined the NFL’s greatest and worst offseason strikes this week, and regrettably, he twisted the knife on the Vikings’ choice to commerce Greenard.
“Worst: Trading Jonathan Greenard for two third-round picks. I can understand why the Vikings traded Greenard. Although he was excellent when healthy in his two years with Minnesota, injuries limited him to three sacks in 12 games in Year 2 after he racked up 12 sacks in Year 1,” he defined.
“The Vikings traded significant draft capital in 2024 to move up for Dallas Turner in the first round, and while I’m not sure his eight-sack total from 2025 really reflects Turner’s true impact on the field, you can understand why the Vikings want to open up a starting role for the Alabama product. With Greenard wanting a new contract, a trade made sense. Did the Vikings really do themselves any favors by waiting until late April to deal Greenard? They landed only a pair of third-round picks from the Eagles.”
Minnesota spent the primary Third-Rounder on security Jakobe Thomas, banked the opposite one for 2027, and used the wage cap aid from the Greenard commerce to signal vast receiver Jauan Jennings.
Barnwell continued, “The Vikings were facing a difficult cap situation this offseason, but the four-year, $98 million deal Greenard signed with the Eagles is structured in a team-friendly manner. Greenard will have cap hits of $6.2 million in 2026 and $11.1 million in 2027.”
“I understand wanting to open up more snaps for Turner, but for what they landed and what they apparently needed to pay Greenard to make him happy, I’d rather have kept one of my best players around for another year or two.”
Certainly, Getting Rid of the Finest Defensive Gamers Is Dangerous
Barnwell isn’t nuts right here. Whereas Greenard did not accrue his typical sack complete in 2025 — as a substitute tabulating now-infamous “almost sacks” — he didn’t wrestle placing stress on quarterbacks and remained efficient in opposition to the run.
A case could be made that defensive sort out Jalen Redmond was simply as productive, if no more, than Greenard final 12 months, however the truth stays that Greenard was a Prime 5 Vikings participant it doesn’t matter what.
Most Tremendous Bowl hopefuls don’t commerce their greatest EDGE defenders. They do the alternative. They hoard them. Just like the Eagles, Greenard’s new employer.
Preserving the Finances Lean
Minnesota’s mantra this offseason — that nobody knew till a few days of free company transpired — was pinching pennies. They signed Kyler Murray to an absurdly low-cost deal, together with inking gamers like James Pierre (CB), Jauan Jennings (WR), and Ryan Van Demark (OT) to modest contracts.
Vikings government Rob Brzezinski speaks throughout an interview with Vikings.com, discussing the group’s front-office philosophy and management construction. Lengthy considered one of many NFL’s premier salary-cap strategists, Brzezinski has performed a major function in shaping Minnesota’s roster-building method throughout a number of eras of staff administration. Feb. 17, 2022. Obligatory Credit score: YouTube.
The Vikings might have spent a lot dinero in free company, however that might’ve required sunsetting new, massive contracts on the 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030 budgets. So, interim common supervisor Rob Brzezinski saved the spending low, resetting the monetary scenario in order that when the 2027 offseason arrives, the membership can truly be lively in free company.
Briefly, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s giant expenditures in 2024 and 2025 got here residence to roost. The Greenard commerce was smushed proper in the midst of that actuality.
Barnwell Bullish on Kyler Murray
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Vikings. Barnwell named Murray to Minnesota as one of many high offseason strikes across the sport.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray delivers a move throughout an NFC Wild Card playoff sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Murray spent a number of seasons as Arizona’s franchise quarterback earlier than turning into one of many NFL’s most mentioned veteran signal-callers throughout later offseason quarterback motion and hypothesis. Jan. 17, 2022. Obligatory Credit score: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports activities.
He defined, “There’s more to roster-building than sheer surplus value, but no deal has the potential to offer more upside in 2026 than this one. And given that the Vikings were facing down another season with J.J. McCarthy as their primary option under center, Murray addresses what might be their biggest position of need.”
“Barring the opportunity cost of finding out that McCarthy’s suddenly the quarterback they expected to land in the first round two years ago, the Murray acquisition offers virtually no downside and a massive amount of upside.”
And Barnwell is right. It’s nonetheless mind-boggling that Minnesota obtained Murray for $1.3 million. Doesn’t appear actual.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
